Bridged Element For Detection Of A Target Substance

Abstract

Physical changes resulting from an association between a template molecule and a target molecule are detected by monitoring changes in the template molecule. Exemplary changes include a change in a physical dimension or stiffness of the template molecule, a change in electrical conductivity of the template molecule and a change in the energy required to dissociate the target molecule and the template molecule. The magnitude of the change is indicative of the specific identity of the target molecule.

1 . A device comprising:
 a template molecule linked between at least two contact points including a first contact point disposed on a first surface and a second contact point disposed on a second surface, wherein the first surface is independent of the second surface, further wherein the template molecule includes at least one binding site for a target molecule; and   a detector coupled to the first contact point, the first contact point having a first physical parameter, the detector configured to generate an output signal based on a change in the first physical parameter, wherein the change in the first physical parameter corresponds to an association of the target molecule and the template molecule;   wherein the template molecule comprises greater than 40 percent guanine and/or cytosine.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the template molecule is a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the template molecule is ssDNA or ssRNA. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the target molecule is a nucleic acid comprising a sequence sufficiently complementary to a sequence in the template molecule so that the target molecule will hybridize to said template molecule. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the template molecule is a nucleic acid that is bonded to the first contact point at its 3′-end and to the second contact point at its 5′-end. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the template molecule is a synthetic analog of a nucleic acid sequence. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first physical parameter includes at least one of:
 a resonant frequency of the first contact point relative to a reference point; 
 a resonant amplitude of the first contact point relative to the reference point; 
 a distance between the first contact point and the reference point; and 
 an alignment between the first contact point and the reference point. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the reference point includes the second contact point. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first surface includes a movable surface. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the detector includes at least one of an optical sensor, a magnetic field sensor, an electric field sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor and a strain sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the detector includes at least one of a comparator and a bridge circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the detector includes a resonance driver in communication with the first surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first contact point has a second physical parameter, and wherein the detector is configured to generate the output signal based on a change in the second physical parameter, wherein the change in the second physical parameter corresponds to the association of the target molecule and the template molecule. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the detector is coupled to the second contact point and wherein the first contact point having a first physical parameter includes the first contact point and the second contact point having a first electrical parameter. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the detector includes a voltage source coupled to the first contact point and the second contact point and wherein the first electrical parameter includes a measure of a current. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the voltage source is configured to supply an increasing potential. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the detector includes a current source coupled to the first contact point and the second contact point and wherein the first electrical parameter includes a measure of a voltage. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the current source is configured to supply an increasing current. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes at least one of glass, quartz, silicon and a polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the template molecule includes at least one of thiol, gold, biotin and streptavidin.